Environmental Studies of Thermal Power Station Effluents: (A Case Study of Egbin Thermal Station, Ikorodu).

This research work was carried out to investigate the level of pollution from the Egbin thermal station and their significant effects on the environment. Samples were collected in duplicate at four different locations. The major parameters investigated on analysis include heavy metals, anions and physico-chemical parameters. BUCK 210 VGP flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) model was used for the metal analysis. Iron, zinc and copper are the predominant metals in the samples while chromium was not detected at some of the sampled locations. The average concentrations of zinc, iron, copper and chromium were 0.153 mg/L, 3.635 mg/L, 0.088 mg/L and 0.080 mg/L respectively. The effluents average for temperature, pH, and conductivity were 34oC, 6.98, 445 S/cm respectively. Hardness, TS, TDS, SS, Alkalinity, acidity, DO, BOD5, phosphate, chloride and sulphate concentrations were 47.5 mg/L, 98.75 mg/L, 68.5 mg/L, 30.25 mg/L, 31.90 mg/L. 6.44 mg/L. 5.76 mg/L, 9.61 mg/L, 0.18 mg/L, 40.37 mg/L and 67.41 mg/L respectively. The high concentration of iron, zinc and some of the physicochemical parameters determined in the samples from the Egbin treatment plant and from the point of discharge showed that the effluents from the Egbin thermal station contribute to the pollutants load in the receiving lagoon.Key Words: Effluents, Metals; AAS, Pollutants, Thermal statio

Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: Evidence from Nigerian manufacturing sector

The study examined the relationship between CSR and firms ’ financial performance with focus on the Nigerian manufacturing sector. It employed descriptive research design and selected a sample of 20 firms-years during 2002-2011. The population of the study comprises of manufacturing companies that are listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange; samples were selected using simple random sampling method. Data were collected from the audited financial statements of the selected companies for a period of ten years. Using profit before tax and annual turnover as proxies for financial performance, correlation and regression analysis were conducted. The results revealed a significant relationship between CSR and profit before tax on one hand; and CSR and turnover on the other hand. The main recommendation is for the firms to increase their investments in CSR as this would boost their financial performance in the long run